Track,train and amusement accessory means driven by said train

ABSTRACT

AS AMUSEMENT PARK COMPLEX IN WHICH TOY DOLLS ARE CONVEYED AS PASSENGERS ON A RAILROAD TRAIN TO A SERIES OF STATIONS ALONG THE TRACKWAY, THE TRAIN BEING CAUSED TO STOP AUTOMATICALLY AT EACH STATION TO PERMIT THE TRANSFER OF PASSENGERS TO A FERRIS WHEEL OR OTHER AMUSEMENT DEVICE LOCATED AT THE STATION, WHICH AMUSEMENT DEVICE IS DRIVEN THROUGH A TRANSMISSION COUPLING BY THE ENGINE OF THE TRAIN WHOSE WHEELS CONTINUE TO TURN EVEN THROUGH MOVEMENT OF THE TRAIN IS ARRESTED.

Feb. 16, 1971 R. GENIN 3,562,950

TRACK, TRAIN A AMUSEMENT ACCESSORY MEANS DRI BY SAID TRAIN Filed April 28, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 TOf/VEV 1 Feb. 16, 1971 R. GENlN 3,562,950

TRACK, TRAIN AND AMUSEMENT ACCESSORY MEANS DRIVEN BY SAID TRAIN Filed April 28, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet B INVENTOR. 05597 Gc w v BY M R. GENIN TRACK, TRAIN AND AMUSEMENT ACCESSORY MEANS DRIVEN BY SAID TRAIN Filed April 28. 1967 Feb. 16, 1971 4 Sheets- -Shee t 5 Array/v5 Feb. 16, 1971 R. GENIN 3,562,950

TRACK, TRAIN AND AMUSEMENT ACCESSORY MEANS v DRIVEN BY SAID TRAIN Filed April 28, 1967 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 HIIIIHII' I N VEN TOR. P0569 GEM/Y,

United States Patent 3,562,950 TRACK, TRAIN AND AMUSEMENT ACCESSORY MEANS DRIVEN BY SAID TRAIN Robert Genin, Scarsdale, N.Y., assignor to Child Guidance Toys Inc., Bronx, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Apr. 28, 1967, Ser. No. 634,693 Int. Cl. A63h 33/26, 21/00 US. Cl. 46-443 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates generally to toy amusement parks, and more particularly to a complex constituted by a toy railroad which is adapted to convey doll-like passengers to a series of stations along the trackway, the train being automatically stopped at each station to permit transfer of the passengers to an amusement device located at the station.

A typical toy railroad is composed of a continuous trackway and a train, the train being constituted by an engine and a series of cars drawn thereby. The engine includes an electric motor and a battery for supplying power thereto as well as a control switch. When the switch is closed, the engine proceeds to pull the cars along the track-way.

Amusement park arrangements on a toy scale are also known in the form of carousels, ferris wheels, and other moving device or rides, which are motor-operated. A typical amusement park is made up of a variety of such devices, each with its own motor. Hence if a child sets up an amusement park, he must separately actuate and control each ride.

Accordingly, the primary object of the invention is to provide a toy amusement park complex which combines or integrates a toy railroad with amusement park rides, whereby the engine of the train also supplies motive power for operating these rides, and where the ride is actuated only when the train is located at the ride.

More specifically it is an object of this invention to provide a complex of the above-described type wherein the railroad functions as an excursion ride for doll-like passengers which are transported to a series of stations along the trackway, the train being stopped automatically at the station to permit transfer of the passengers to an amusement device located at the station.

A significant feature of the invention is that when the train automatically stops at a ride, it renders only that ride operative so that should the ride be in the form of a ferris Wheel, the wheel proceeds to revolve and should the ride be in the form of a carousel, the turntable thereof is caused to turn.

Thus the child who plays with the amusement park complex assumes the role of master operator, the child being able to load the train with passengers, to start the train on its excursion along the trackway, to transfer the passengers from the train to the seats of the ferris wheel or other ride when the train is automatically arrested at a station, and to release the train so that it is free to continue the excursion until the next station is reached.

Because of the variety of functions which are under the control of the child and the simple character of these functions, the play value of the toy is exceptionally high and rewarding.

Also an object of the invention is to provide a complex of the above described type which may readily be assembled by the child, and which may be quickly dismantled for compact storage.

Briefly stated, these objects are attained in an amusement park complex comprising a continuous trackway composed of interconnecting track sections, some of which are in the form of station sections incorporating a transmission shaft having a pair of rollers at one end adapted to engage the front wheels of the train engine, and having at the other end thereof a pinion adapted to engage the operating mechanism of an amusement device, the station section also including an upstanding latch element which engages a slot formed in the under-carriage of the train as it enters the station section to arrest the movement of the train when the rotating front Wheels thereof engage said rollers, the hand wheels then functioning to drive said device. A manually operated control member is provided to depress said latch element and thereby to release said train.

The engine includes a switch to apply power from a battery to the motor thereof, the cars hooked to the engine having seats for accommodating doll-like passengers, such that when the engine is switched on, it conveys the passengers to the first station, at which point the train is automatically arrested by the latching element to permit transfer of the passengers to seats on the amusement device, which is then driven by the engine through the transmission shaft, the action continuing until such time as the child depresses the control member to release the train for movement to the next station section, where passengers may again be transferred to an amusement ride.

For a better understanding of the invention, as well as other objects and further features thereof, reference is made to the following detailed description to be read in conjunction with the annexed drawing wherein the elements are identified by 1, 1a reference numerals.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an amusement park complex in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view, in perspective, of one station section of the trackway which is separated from the other track sections;

FIG. 3 shows the underside of one of the amusement rides, which is in the form of spinning teacups;

FIG. 4 is a transverse section taken through the station track section along the plane indicated by line 44 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a section through the train engine taken in the plane indicated by line 5-5 in FIG. 4, in the position where movement of the train on the station section is arrested;

FIG. -6 is the same as FIG. 5, except that the train is released;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the station section;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view, partially cutaway of the carousel;

FIG. 9 shows the underside of the carousel; and

FIG. 10 shows a portion of the ferris wheel mecha nism. -l

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated an amusement park complex according to the invention, the main components of the complex being a railroad train, generally designated by numeral 10, for transporting passengers on a continuous trackway 11 to a series of three stations at which amusement rides are located. The passengers are in the form of doll-like figures 12, a sufficient 3 number of figures being supplied to provide passengers for both the train and for the rides.

The trackway 11 is arranged to conduct the train to a series of stations at one of which there is located an amusement ride in the form of a carousel or merry-goround 13, a ferris wheel 14 being disposed at the second station and a spinning teacup ride 15 at the third. The number of stations and associated amusement devices as well as the configuration of the trackway may be varied as desired, the particular complex shown being for the purposes of illustration only.

Trackway 11 is constituted by interconnecting travel track sections 16 having various curvatures and station track sections 17, one of which is associated with each amusement ride. As best seen in FIG. 2, each travel section includes a pair of parallel channels 16A and 16B, adapted to accommodate and guide the wheels of the train, a projecting tongue 160 being provided at one end of the section which is adapted to snap into a socket 16D formed at the other end to effect an interconnection therebetween. Similarly, each station section includes parallel channels 17A and 17B, a tongue 17C and a socket 17D. The channels of the station sections register with those of the travel sections to provide a continuous trackway.

Train 10 is composed of a locomotive or engine 18 and a series of three cars 19, 20 and 21 hooked thereto, although in practice a greater number may be employed. The cars are designed to seat the passengers 12, and for this purpose each car includes a small post which telescopes within the hollow body of the doll-like passenger 12 to maintain the passenger in place. Locomotive 18 includes an electric motor of suitable design which is powered by a battery. The motor is operatively coupled to the rear wheels 18A of the engine and is manually controlled by a switch 18B. It will be appreciated that the invention is also operable with a spring-wound motor or with an electrified trackway coupled to a power line.

Station track section 17, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 7, includes a raised central portion having a pair of gaps 17F and 17B cut in the channels thereof, within which a pair of rollers 22 and 23 are disposed, the rollers being mounted on a transmission shaft 24 which extends laterally from the station section and terminates in a pinion 25. The periphery of the rollers is knurled, so that when they are engaged by the rear wheels of the engine and movement of the engine is arrested, the rotating rear wheels cause the rollers to rotate, thereby turning the transmission shaft and the pinion 25, which pinion engages an input gear in the amusement ride.

Extending upwardly from station section 17 at a position intermediate rollers 22 and 23 is a U shaped latch element 26, the vertical arms of the latch element being attached to the horizontal arms of a bifurcated plate 27, the base of which is connected to a flat spring 28, the plate and spring being on the underside of the track section. Plate 27 is provided with a button 29 which projects upwardly through an opening in a side box 30 integral with the station section 17. The spring 28 is anchored at one end within box 30 and normally maintains latch element 26 in its fully extending vertical position. When the control button 29 is depressed, it acts to deflect plate 27 and to cause latch element 26 to retract.

The undercarriage of engine 18 includes a latch socket 31, which is centrally positioned in alignment with the latch element so that when the engine rides over the station section, latch element 26 enters latch socket 31 and further movement of the train is blocked, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. At this position, the rear wheels 18A of the engine engage rollers 22 and 23 to cause pinion 25 to turn. When button 29 is thereafter depressed to retract the latch element, the train is released as shown in FIG. 6, and resumes its travel until it encounters the latch element on the next station section.

When the train is arrested at the station section at which the spinning teacup ride 15 is located, the rotating pinion 25 acts to operate these teacups to cause them to orbit and concurrently to spin. The manner in which this is accomplished can best be appreciated in connection with FIGS. 2 and 3. This ride is constituted by three teacups 31, 32 and 33, mounted for rotation at equispaced positions on a turntable 34. Turntable 34 operates within a circular frame 35 and is provided with a peripheral flange gear 36, which gear is engaged by pinion 25 so that when the engine movement is arrested and pinion 25 is caused to rotate, turntable 34 is caused to turn, thereby rotating the cups in an orbit about a center pole 34A.

Cups 31, 32 and .33 are mounted on vertical shafts connected to planetary gears 31A, 32A and 33A, disposed below the turntable, which planetary gears engage a fixed sun gear wheel 37 supported on a spider 38 at-' tached to frame 35. As the turntable 34 rotates, planetary gears 31A, 32A and 33A orbit about sun gear 37 and cause the cups connected thereto to spin as they at the same time revolve on the turntable about the center pole. The cups are provided with upstanding posts 31B, 32B and 33B, the passengers 12 being mounted thereon.

Thus when the train enters and halts at the station section associated with the spinning teacup ride, passengers may be transferred to the spinning teacups to enjoy the ride, while replacements may be put in the cars of the train. Thereafter the control button is pressed to release the train to continue the excursion until carousel 13 is reached.

Carousel 13 is constituted by three horses 39, 40 and 41 which are arranged to jog up and down on a rotating turntable 44, below a conical canopy 42, mounted on a central pole 13. As best seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, turntable 44 is mounted for rotation within a circular frame 45 and is provided with a peripheral flange 46 having gear teeth which are engaged by drive pinion 25 extending from the station section. Mounted on the underside of the frame is a spider having convex quadrant arms 47 and a central bearing 48 for supporting the rotary turntable.

Each of the horses, such as horse 39 shown in FIG. 8, is mounted on a lever 49 pivoted on the turntable, the lever having an arm 50, whose lower end 50A extends through a slot in the turntable 44 to engage the fixed convex quadrants 47 as the turntable rotates, the horse being attached to the upper end of the arm. Thus as the turntable is driven by pinion 25', the horses thereon rotate in an orbit about the center pole and at the same time are caused to jog up and down as the lower arm portion 50A engages the convex quadrants 47 four times in the course of each rotary cycle. Each horse is provided with a post 51 onto which a passenger 12 may be mounted.

Thus when the train is arrested at the station associated with the carousel, passengers may be transferred to the horses to enjoy the merry-go-round. Thereafter the train may be released to travel to the ferris wheel. Ferris wheel 14, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 10 includes a gear train 52 for operatively coupling drive pinion 25" to the geared wheel 53. Bucket seats 54 having mounting posts therein for receiving passenger dolls are pivotally mounted between geared wheel 53 and a parallel wheel 55. As the ferris wheels rotate, the pivoted bucket seats tendto swing.

When dismantled, the complex consists of the elements of the train, the various track and station sections and the amusement rides. These components may be compactly packaged. To assemble the toy, all the child need do is to interconnect the track sections, and place the rides so that their input gears mesh with the drive pinions of the station sections. The train is then put together by booking the cars onto the engine, the train being placed on the trackway with the wheels thereof in the guide channels. The engine switch is turned on, and the train then enters the station to activate the associated ride.

The child may add and remove passenger dolls in the course of the excursion, as suits his fancy, and he may maintain any one ride in operation as long as he wishes, the child acting as the master operator of the amusement park.

What I claim is:

1. A toy railroad complex comprising:

(a) a trackway composed of interconnected travel and station sections, all of said sections having a pair of channels therein to guide the wheels of a train, each of said station sections including a pair of rollers disposed at a fixed position in a gap in said channels, which rollers are in a position to be engaged by the wheels of said train and are mounted on a transmission shaft extending laterally from said station section and terminating in a pinion, and a retractable latch element, said latch element being disposed between said channels and having a retracted position which offers no interference with said train and an extended position, and means independent of said rollers to operate said latch element,

(b) a wheeled train adapted to travel on said trackway and including an engine having a pair of driven wheels and means, separate from said wheels, engaged by said latch element in its extended position on any one of said station sections to halt said engine at a position at which said driven Wheels engage said rollers to operatively couple said engine to said pinion, and

(c) accessory means associated with each station section to be operated by said halted engine, said accessory means including an input gear which intermeshes with said pinion to cause said halted engine to operate same.

2. A complex as set forth in claim 1, wherein said latch element is vertically supported on a spring mounted plate disposed horizontally below the station section, said plate having a button which, when pressed, causes deflection of the plate and retraction of the latch element to release said train.

3. A complex as set forth in claim 1, wherein said engine is a locomotive having a battery-operated motor coupled to the rear wheels of the locomotive, said rear wheels being mounted on an undercarriage having a socket to receive the latch element and thereby arrest movement of the engine.

4.. A complex as set forth in claim 1, wherein one of said accessory means is a ferris wheel having bucket seats pivotally mounted between a pair of vertically mounted wheels, one of said vertically mounted wheels having a peripheral gear, and a gear train operatively coupling the geared wheel to the pinion.

5. A complex as set forth in claim 1, wherein one of said accessory means is a carousel including a turntable which is operatively coupled to said pinion, and a plurality of horses mounted on said turntable, each horse being supported on a pivoted lever having an arm which periodically engages a series of fixed convex members below said turntable as the turntable rotates to cause said horses to jog.

6. A complex as set forth in claim 1, wherein one of said accessory means is composed of a turntable operatively coupled to said pinion, and a plurality of teacups supported for rotation about said turntable, each cup being connected to a planetary gear which engages a fixed sun gear below the turntable to cause said cups to spin as they orbit on the turntable.

7. A complex as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said accessory means is an amusement ride having posts for supporting doll-like passengers further including dolllike passengers for said train and said rides, said passengers being in the form of hollow cylinders which are mounted on supporting posts on said train and said rides.

8. A toy railroad complex comprising:

(A) a trackway composed of interconnected travel and station track sections, all of said sections having a pair of channels therein to guide the wheels of a train, at least one said station section having roller means including at least one roller disposed at a fixed position in a gap in one of said channels, which roller is in a position to be engaged by one of the wheels of said train and is mounted on a transmission shaft extending laterally from said station section and terminating in a pinion, a retractable latch element mounted at said one station, said latch element being disposed between said channels and having a retracted position which offers no interference with said train and an extended position, and means independent of said roller to operate said latch element,

(B) a wheeled train adapted to travel on said trackway and including an engine having a pair of driven wheels and means engag-eable by said latch element in its extended position to halt said engine at a position at which at least one of said driven wheels engages said roller means to operatively couple said engine to said pinion and at which the other of said driven wheels is maintained free of contact with its respective track section channel, and

(C) accessory means associated with said one station section to be operated by said halted engine, said accessory means including an input gear which intermeshes with said pinion to cause said halted engine to operate same.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,212,683 1/1917 Robinson 74-l4 1,275,754 8/1918 Rockwood 74-14 1,766,007 6/1930 White 74--14 861,785 7/1907 Wilson 104-252 874,349 12/1907 Richards 104252 D. 162,966 4/1951 Lewy 46218X 3,108,398 10/1963 Einfalt 462l6 3,154,024 lO/l964 Einfalt 46202X 3,337,985 8/1967 Ryan et al. 46243 2,737,756 3/ 1956 Reed 46-208X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,102,022 3/1961 Germany 462l6 F. BARRY SHAY, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

